Centrifugal nut-cracking machine



Feb. 19 1924.`

M. RDDLE Uc-AL NUT` CRAGKING IACHINE CENTRI? 2 Shasta-Sheet i Filed Dec. 314,

Fne. I

Chimney M. RIDDLE GENTRIFUGAL NUT cnAcKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31 1920 2 sheets-Sheet 2 f FIG. 2 2s Patented Feb. 19. 1924.

umalize-o semina-sf 1,484,563 garten-fr@ omnes.1J

Bala knwii that 'rjmxwafafnmm a citifzin"V of the UnitedI States' L,of 'Ameriica rey Salite'- at, Reagent; in 'uemnty ef Teenage ail tatelnffl hiof'have'iinvntedfcertaiii" ntflaiid Auseful rv'eiilcx'ts" "in Centrifu? AA :further object of the inveiitibriA v'istiie` pvisionf`of"a "machineI fdr hf'usli'l'ig"nuts when operated at one speed and cracking" them by increasing-the speed of the machine, the operatio'm either event involving centrifu al action and means for preventing the c ogging of the machine during operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a centrifugal nut cracker operating on a horizontal axis whereby the radial projecting of the nuts against a breaking wall performs the cracking operation, the cracked nuts being adapted to leave the machine by the force of gravity.

With these eneral objects in view, the invention cons1sts of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.'

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional View taken through my nut cracking machine with p-arts broken away,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof with parts illustrated in horizontal section,

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the receiving side of the rotor or centrifugal Wheel,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View through the hub and mounting shaft thereof showing the opposite side of the rotor in elevation, and

Figure 5 is 'a perspective view of the rotor detached.

Referrin more in detail to the drawings 'a rectangu ar base 10 is provided for the machine mounted upon legs 11 with a propelling shaft 12 journaled in bearings 13 upon the base 10 in a horizontal position, di'erent sized pulleys 14 carried by the Staa 12' talig. tagliata @gravage 'fasste-aff at different speeds 'bfmean 'of a han sufchf:

lto

19 ses "passi-fig uigh 'maar openings' the rotors VJcgonsisting` lot a disk 23 Cwithx a" henwjx-thapeu niemeer ai jupon' YQns gaat, providing hollow` radial spokes2'5,

1t by acjuis raaf-s @maag-assembly "moaned" in this manner at the ends of the shaft 12 centrally of the drum 16. A central receiving opening 27 for the nuts to be operated upon is provided in the X-shaped member 24 of the rotor with a stationary conveying tube or pipe 28 leading to the entrance 27 of each rotor. The rapid rotation of the centrifugal wheels 22 simultaneously with the feeding of nuts through the pipes 28 and openings 27 forcibly throws the nuts outwardly by centrifugal action against the obli ue outer walls or rims 29 of the drums 16. he violent striking of the nuts against the walls 29 breaks and removes the husk and upon increasing the velocity of rotation of the rotors 22, the force of the blow is increased for cracking the nuts.

A cover or plate 30 at the open side of each drum. 16 guides the nuts after being operated upon downwardly through the open bottom 31 of the cover. The angular position of the sides 29 of the drum 16 prevents the nuts from bounding back against the rotors 22 'and causes the nuts to bound outwardly toward the outlet covers 30. It will be 'apparent that the force with which the nuts are thrown against the cracking sides or Walls 29 of the drums 16 is regulated by controlling the speed of rotation of the shaft 12 as propelled by the belt 15 running over the pulleys 14. The complete operation of the invention will be 'ap arent from this detail description t ereof, the machine being capable of husking as well as cracking large quantities of nuts in an expeditious manner, it being noted that the inlet pipes 28 are xed through perfor-ations 32 in the covers 30. While a form of machine is herein set forth for urposes of illustration it will 'be understoo that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character described 'a support, a horizontal shaft journaled thereon, means for varying the speed of said shaft, a spider fixed to one end of said shaft a disc secured to said spidenhollow'radial spokes fixed to said disk and communicating at their adjacent ends, a drum enclosing the end of said shaft, said drum comprising a closed inner side, an oblique outer rim formed with said inner side, and a cover plate having a discharge opening formed with said rim, said cover lplate further having an aperture, and a feeding tube positioned in said aperture land terminating within the communicating space for said hollow spokes to discharge the-rein.

2. In a device of the character described,

i a support, a .horizontal shaft journaled thereon, mea-ns for driving lsaid shaft, va spider fixed to one end of said shaft, a disk secured to said spider, hollow radial spokes fixed' to said disk and communicating at their adjacent ends, a drum enclosing the spider, disk, and radial spokes, said drum comprising an imperforate inner side interposed between said disk and support, an oblique outer rim formed with said inner side extending axially outwardly from said support and drivin means, a cover plate formed with the olique outer rim, said cover plate having an openin adapted for discharging the separated shells and kernels longitudinally from the cnd of the entire device away from said support and driving means and a feedin tube terminating at its inner end within te communicating space for said hollow spokes passing thro-u h said cover plate fromthe end of the e-` Vice in vertical alinement with the discharge opening whereby an operator of the apparatus may h'andle both the feeding and disp charging of nuts without changing his position and while in a safeposition 'from the driving means. f f

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature. Y

MAXWELL RIDDIYJE.` 

